Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg

The Language Centre of Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, a medium-size university in Bavaria, offers language courses to students of philology, of business studies and IT as well as provides students of all faculties with language courses and intercultural training.

In the context of a growing need for internationalization the university has extended its co-operations with universities in different countries and thus increasingly welcomes international students. The Language Centre caters for the needs of exchange students by offering a growing number of courses in German as a Foreign Language and by helping them integrate into German (university) life. Its multinational staff has a lot of experience with the impact of interculturality in the classroom.

This partnership will give very good opportunity to share expertise and good practice in the proposed field of the project activities, especially for minorities. The multinational background of the Language Centre will provide all partners with valuable insight into specific needs and topic areas to include in the modules to be developed.

Marco Depietri is a lecturer of Italian at the Sprachenzentrum of Otto-Friedrich University, Germany. He has a degree in Foreign Languages and Literature at the University Ca’ Foscari Venice. He also holds a PhD in German Linguistics at the University of Bamberg, Germany.

He is the Coordinator of Erasmus Programme at the University of Bamberg and teacher of Italian as a foreign language at the same University. Since 1999 he manages the project “Theatre and University”, a project by Foreign Affairs Ministry, Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Munich, Italian Consulate and municipal theatre “ETA-Hoffmann”of Bamberg, Germany.

He also collaborated in the project “Destination Italy” funded by European Union and taught in Italian Language and Culture Courses for descendants of Italian emigrated in Germany.

Armin Gertz is a lecturer of German as a foreign language at the University of Bamberg Language Center, Germany. He holds a degree in Slavic Languages and Political Sciences from the University of Bamberg and has worked for the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Gdansk, Poland for three years. He teaches German as a foreign language at private language institutes, at the University of Bamberg,and as an intercultural trainer. His students include both German and international students as well as academic staff. He is the co-author of the culture-based course book “Bamberg – Kaleidoskop einer fränkischen Stadt” for international students and tourists in his hometown.

Vincenzo Picozzi is a researcher and works as a project assistant at the university Language Center in Bamberg. In 2016 he did an internshipat the University of Bamberg withinthe RiUscire project. In September 2016 he obtained amaster’s degree in didactics of Italianas a foreign language with the thesis: “Germany: Best Practices and Syllabi for Workers in the Construction Industry”.

Alisa Thüroff studies Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Bamberg. Since November 2015 she is part of the RiUscire project at the Bamberg Language Center.

Petra Avram is lecturer for German as a foreign language at the University of Bamberg. She has studied history and German studies and teaches German as a foreign language at the University of Bamberg and at different language schools in Bamberg. Her specialty is Business German. Since the winter semester 2016, she has been organizing as a tutor the international esg, where she offers events for foreign and German students and promotes networking. She is currently completing a Master’s degree in Adult and Further Education.

Oksana Snihur is lecturer for German as a foreign language at the University of Bamberg and different language schools. She does her master studies in German. She has already got her master degree in the English studies and foreign literature. In the course of her work at the University of Bamberg, she teaches exchange students as well as guest scientists, who are promoting in Germany. Her specialty is the development of the communicative skills both in the scientific context and everyday life.